NEWCASTLE will play host to a third Rugby Championship Test match later this year after the final fixture in the tournament, Argentina versus South Africa, was switched from ANZ Stadium to McDonald Jones Stadium.
The December 12 clash will follow a historic double-header at McDonald Jones on November 28, when Australia clash with Argentina, followed by the All Blacks versus the world champion Springboks.
Three Test matches in the space of two weeks shapes as a treat for Novocastrian rugby fans, who have waited eight years since the Wallabies last played in Newcastle.
That visit will be remembered as much for the driving rain and gale-forced winds as the shock 9-6 loss to Scotland, attended by 20,088 diehards.
A revamped Rugby Championship schedule means the All Blacks won't spend Christmas in quarantine after Rugby Australia and SANZAAR revised the draw and brought forward the final Australia-New Zealand clash.
The Wallabies and All Blacks were due to meet in the last match of the tournament on December 12, but under current New Zealand regulations they have to complete two weeks in quarantine that would take in Christmas. There was talk of a potential boycott by New Zealand players if a solution wasn't found.
The teams will now square off in the Rugby Championship opener, which doubles as the third Bledisloe Cup match, on October 31 at ANZ Stadium.
The match between Argentina and South Africa, part of a double header on December 12, has been relocated from ANZ Stadium to the smaller McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle to close out the seven-week tournament.
The remainder of the draw is otherwise unchanged, with the Wallabies and All Blacks meeting for fourth time as part of a double header in Brisbane on November 7.
South Africa's participation remains to be confirmed, with their government still to approve international travel for the world champions.
SANZAAR chief executive Andy Marinos said the opening of a travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand had allowed organisers to make the changes.
He hinted that New Zealand Rugby had been forced to foot some of the bill for the rescheduling.
"The opening of the travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand from New Zealand and an agreement by the parties on revised commercial outcomes has enabled the joint venture to consider alternative solutions in addressing our two key objectives of commercial viability and player welfare," Marinos said.
"This year has been a year of continued adjustment where the SANZAAR partners have had to compromise on a number of levels."
NZR boss Mark Robinson described the decision as "great news".
"It is great news that we now have certainty on the draw and we're really excited about the fantastic rugby to come," Robinson said.
The Christmas quarantine stoush had kept tensions high between the trans-Tasman neighbours, with New Zealand claiming they never agreed to a December 12 finish.
New Zealand Rugby were already unhappy that Australia had snatched hosting rights away due to more relaxed COVID-19 restrictions.
It got to the point that RA chairman Hamish McLennan said the relationship between the countries was at its "lowest ebb".
The teams meet in the opening Bledisloe Cup in Wellington on Sunday, with and Auckland Test a week later.
REVISED DRAW FOR 2020 RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP
Matchday one - Saturday, October 31, ANZ Stadium, Sydney
19:45 AEDT - Australia v New Zealand
Matchday two - Saturday, November 7, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
17:00 AEDT - Argentina v South Africa
19:45 AEDT - Australia v New Zealand
Matchday three - Saturday, November 14, Bankwest Stadium, Sydney
17:00 AEDT - New Zealand v Argentina
19:45 AEDT - South Africa v Australia
Matchday four - Saturday, November 21, ANZ Stadium, Sydney
17:00 AEDT - New Zealand v South Africa
19:45 AEDT - Australia v Argentina
Matchday five - Saturday, November 28, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
17:00 AEDT - Argentina v Australia
19:45 AEDT - South Africa v New Zealand
Matchday six - Saturday, December 5, Bankwest Stadium, Sydney
17:00 AEDT - Argentina v New Zealand
19:45 AEDT - Australia v South Africa
Matchday seven - Saturday, December 12, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle 19:45 AEDT - South Africa v Argentina
